. >> when it comes to the fiscal cliff that is threatening our economy and threatening jobs, the white house has wasted another week. >> reporter: he and the president spoke by phone, only once all week, and it didn't produce much. >> just more of the same, it is time for the president to be serious, to come back to us with a counter offer. >> reporter: but what may have been most notable what was john boehner did not say. he did not repeat his demand to keep taxes cuts for the wealthy in place, the biggest issue that divides them, instead he said this. >> there are a lot of things possible for the revenue, to put on the table. but none of it will be possible if the president insists on his position, insists on my way, or the highway. >> reporter: aides to john boehner and the president who are doing the negotiating are tight-lipped. but others suggest possible compromise on the thorny tax issue. one, instead of raising the current tax rate on the wealthy from the 37% from the bush tax era, to 36%, as the president wants, pick a middle ground. republicans are so concerned about small b